From 6:30 p.m. to ? in the lower level of the great room, there'll be cherry-inspired dishes and cocktails, a silent auction and dance & illusion by Ebina Performing Arts. Participating restaurants at the Shisheido-Mazza Gallerie event include ADOUR at St. Regis, Asia Nine Bar and Lounge, Charlier Palmer Steak, Firefly, Mie N Yu, Plume and Vidalia Restaurant and Bistro Bis.

Of course, the event is not for the faint of wallet. $150 per person gets you in or, for an extra $100, you can get into the VIP pre-party with Charlie Palmer.

There's another way to help the festival -- and all it takes is your time. If you're the enthusiastic, professional and positive type, the festival wants you. After all, it wouldn't do to send out the snark gang to welcome visitors to the nation's capital, now would it?